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March 10, 1964 R. M. FRINK METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SHROUDING WITH FLATTENED TUBE Filed May 9, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR. fiuasaz A7. fiP/A/lf BY 5% 2V March 10, 1964 R. M. FRlNK 3,123,906

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SHROUDING WITH FLATTENED TUBE Filed May 9, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f JNVEN TOR. fiuaaaz /7 Fimwr United States PatentO 3,123,906 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SHRGUDING WITH FLATTENED TUBE Russell M. Frink, Bloomfield Hills, Mich, assignor to Calumet & Hecla, Ina, Allen Park, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed May 9, 1961 Ser. N 27,831 7 Claims. (Cl. 29-433) This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for shrouding with flattened tube.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved method of and apparatus for shrouding an electrical cable or like member with an elongated tube. It is often desirable to use a relatively light wall tube for this purpose,

and roll reducing has been found to be a very convenient and economical way of producing such a tube.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of shrouding a member, such as an electrical cable, by advancing a flattened tube along a predetermined path and reforming the same to tubular shape at an initial point in the path during such advance, and supporting the member at a subsequent point in the path to shroud the member with the reformed tube.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus for shrouding a member, such as an electrical cable which preferably comprises a plurality of sets of driven rolls at spaced intervals for advancing a tube along a predetermined path, and supporting the member to be shrouded in the path of the tube so that the tube is moved over the member during its advance.

A still further object of the invention is to provide apparatus as described above in which the means for supporting the member to be shrouded in the path of advance of the reformed tube comprises a plurality of sets of idler rolls supported for relative movement toward and away from each other to accommodate either the reformed tube or the member to be shrouded and spring urged toward each other.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of apparatus constructed according to the invention and especially designed to carry out the method.

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 showing different parts in elevation.

FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are sectional views taken respectively on the lines 33, 44, S5, 6-6, and 7-7 of FIG. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the flattened tube is indicated generally by the reference character 16 and is supported in a roll at a convenient location adjacent to the shrouding apparatus. The flattened tube 10 is preferably formed from a length of relatively heavy wall tubing by passing the same between a pair of flattening rolls which engage opposite sides of the tube and press the sides flat against each other. The wall thickness of the flattened tube is substantially reduced either during the flattening operation or in a subsequent rolling operation. A very considerable reduction in wall thickness of the tube can be obtained in this manner.

The flattened tube It) is led from the roll over an idler.

12 through a unit 14 for reforming or expanding the tube to tubular shape. The apparatus 14 for reforming the flattened and reduced tube 10 is shown in FIG. 7 and comprises a pair of rolls 16 and 18. The rolls 16 and 18 are mounted on parallel shafts 20 and 22. These rolls are identical and have annular grooves 24 in their peripheries. At the base of each groove there is an annular recess 26 for receiving the corresponding edge of the flat- 3,123,996 Patented Mar. 10, 1964 2 tened tube to impose a compressive force thereon suflicient to expand it. The rolls are positioned so that their peripheries approach one another and the opposed grooves define a tube opening corresponding to the configuration of the expanded tube. The distance between the recesses 26 is somewhat less than the width of the flattened and reduced tube, measured from edge to edge thereof, so that the rolls impose a compressive force on the opposite longitudinal edges of the tube as it passes between the rolls. The leading end of the flattened and reduced tube will be opened up manually before it is fed between the reforming rolls to start the expansion of the tube.

While preferably the expanding or reforming means is composed of the rolls 16 and 18 thus described, it will be understood that in its broader aspects the inven tion contemplates expanding the tube by any means such as an internal fluid medium, for example.

The tube 10 is advanced along a predetermined path 29 extending from the idler 12, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, by an advancing mechanism including the roll sets 30, 32 and 34. The set of rolls 31 comprises the upper and lower rolls 36 and 38. The roll set 32 comprises the upper and lower rolls 40 and 42 and the roll set 34 comprises the upper and lower rolls 44 and 46.

The rolls 36 and 38 are shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 and are supported in a vertical plane through the path of the tube 111 on upper and lower parallel shafts 48 and 50 journaled in the roll stand 52. The rolls are keyed to the respective shafts which are driven in opposite directions by an electric motor 54. The motor operates a gear box 56 and the gear box has a shaft 58 with pulleys 60 and 62 keyed to the ends thereof and connected to pulleys 64 and 66 by the belts 68 and 70. Pulley 64 is secured to an extension 72 of the roll shaft 43 and pulley 66 is secured to an extension 74 of the roll shaft 50. The arrangement is such that the rolls 36 and 38 are driven at the same speed in the direction of the arrows. The rolls 36 and 38 are formed with peripheral grooves 75 having a radius of curvature corresponding to that of the reformed tube so as to have a full surface-to-surface engagement therewith. The roll peripheries closely approach one another to define an opening corresponding in size to the shape of the tube, with clearance at each edge to accommodate the ribs 76 formed on the expanded tube. a

The driven rolls 40 and 42 are disposed in a vertical plane through the path of travel of the tube and keyed to shafts 82 and 84 which are parallel to one another and journaled for rotation in the roll stand 86. The peripheries of the rolls 4t) and 42 are grooved on a radius corresponding with that of the reformed tube, as indicated at 87. The rolls 40 and 42 are driven in the direction of the arrows at the same peripheral speed as the rolls 36 and 38. To accomplish this, the pulleys 88 and 90 are keyed on shaft extensions 92 and 94 and are respectively connected to pulleys 96 and 98 on the shaft extensions 72 and 74 by the belts 99 and 100.

The rolls 44 and 46 are exactly like the rolls 40 and 42 and are disposed in the vertical plane of the path of the tube, being keyed to shafts 102 and 164 which are parallel to each other and journaled for rotation in the stand 106. The rolls 44 and 46 are driven in the direction of the arrows at the same peripheral speed as the rolls 36, 38, 40 and 42 by the belts 108 and 110 which extend over pulleys 112 and 114 on the roll shaft extensions 92 and 94 and over pulleys (not shown) on extensions of the roll shafts 102, 104.

3 such as an electrical cable 120, is supported with its axis on the path of travel of the tube to be shrouded thereby. The electrical cable 120 is supported in position on the path of the tube by the idler roll sets 122, 124 and 126. The roll set 122 comprises the upper and lower idler rolls 128 and 130 which are disposed in a vertical plane extending through the path of travel of the tube for rotation on the parallel shafts 132 and 134. The shafts 132 and 134 are supported on the ends of the parallel arms 136 and 138. The opposite ends of the arms 136 and 138 are respectively rotatably supported on the shafts 4S and 50. Hence, the shafts 132 and 134 are supported for movement toward and away from each other about the axes of shafts 48 and 50. The shafts 132 and 134 are urged toward one another by a pair of tension springs 140 which interconnect extensions 142 and 144 of the arms 136 and 138. Spring units 139 are provided to support the set of rolls 122. These units comprise the arm extensions 144 formed with apertures 146 for receiving the rods 148 which have nuts 150 on the upper ends thereof and abutments 152 adjacent the lower ends. The rods are pivoted at their lower ends by blocks 154 to the floor of the structure, and compression coil springs 156 are interposed between the arm extensions 144 and the abutments 152 to yieldably sustain the set of rolls 122.

The peripheries of the rolls 128 and 130 are grooved on a radius corresponding to that of the reformed or expanded tube.

The set of rolls 124 are exactly like the set of rolls 126 which will now be described. The set of rolls 126 are disposed in a vertical plane through the path of travel of the tube and are indicated at 160 and 162. These rolls are journaled for rotation on the parallel shafts 164 and 166 which in turn are supported by the arms 168 and 170. The arms 168 are pivoted at their other ends to the shafts 102 and 194 of the driven rolls. The peripheries of the rolls 160 and 162 are grooved on a radius corresponding to that of the reformed tube It). The arms 168 and 170 are provided with extensions 174 and 176 connected by tension springs 178. Spring units 139 are provided for supporting the set of rolls 126, which units are exactly like those for supporting the set of rolls 122.

The idler rolls of the set 124 are exactly like the set of rolls 126 and are mounted on the roll stand 86 in exactly the same manner and hence, a detailed description thereof is unnecessary. Similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts.

In use, the leading end of the flattened tube is spread apart manually to start it through the expanding unit, and the expanded or reformed tube is then drawn to the position shown in FIGURE 1 in which it is engaged by the first set of driven rolls 30. The member to be shrouded, in this instance the cable 120, is then positioned as shown in FIGURE 1 in which it is supported by the idler roll sets 122, 124 and 126 with its end inserted in the leading end of the reformed tube. The driven rolls are then set in motion to advance the reformed tube along its path. As the tube passes the idler rolls 122 it forces them apart and passes between them. The idler rolls 12.2 are shaped to accommodate the contour of the reformed tube which passes readily therebetween. As the reformed tube continues to advance over the cable, it passes between and spreads apart the idler rolls of the succeeding sets 124 and 126. In FIGURE 2, the idler rolls of sets 122 and 124 are shown separated by the advancing tube. The rolls of set 122 are normally in engagement with each other, as seen in FIGURE 4, and the rolls of sets 124 and 126 normally engage the cable. The upward movement of these rolls is limited by the nuts 150 of the spring units 139 which engage the arm extensions 144 and 176. The process goes on continuously so that the flattened tube is reformed to tubular shape and shrouded over the electrical cable in one continuous operation. Additional driver and idler roll sets may be provided along the path of advance of the tube, as required to support the cable and advance the tube.

The drawings and the foregoing specification constitute a description of the improved method and apparatus for shrouding with flattened tube in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Apparatus for shrouding an elongated member, comprising means for advancing a flattened tube along a predetermined path, means for reforming the flattened tube to tubular shape during such advance, said advancing means comprising a plurality of sets of rolls at spaced intervals along said path beyond said reforming means, the rolls of at least one set being driven and all of said rolls being engageable with the reformed tube, and means for supporting the elongated member in general alignment with said path of advance of said tube beyond said reforming means to be shrouded by the reformed tube, said member supporting means comprising a set of opposed idler rolls in said path supported for relative movement toward and away from each other to accommodate and supportingly engaged either said elongated member or said reformed tube, and resilient means urging said idler rolls toward each other.

2. Apparatus for shrouding an elongated member, comprising means for advancing a flattened tube along a predetermined path, means for reforming the flattened tube to tubular shape during such advance, said advancing means comprising a plurality of sets of driven rolls engageable with the reformed tube at spaced intervals along said path beyond said reforming means, and means for supporting the elongated member in general alignment with said path of advance of said tube beyond said reforming means to be shrouded by the reformed tube, said member supporting means comprising a plurality of sets of opposed idler rolls in said path supported for relative movement toward and away from each other to accommodate and supportingly engage either said elongated member or said reformed tube, and resilient means urging said idler rolls of each set toward each other.

3. Apparatus for shrouding an elongated member, comprising means for advancing a flattened tube along a predetermined path, means for reforming the flattened tube to tubular shape during such advance, said advancing means comprising a plurality of sets of driven rolls at spaced intervals along said path beyond said reforming means, roll stands for said respective roll sets supporting the rolls of said sets in predetermined spaced relation to each other so that the peripheries thereof will engage and advance the reformed tube, means for supporting the elongated member in general alignment with said path of advance of the tube beyond said reforming means to be shrouded by the reformed tube, said member sup porting means comprising a plurality of sets of opposed idler rolls in said path, means supporting said idler roll sets on said respective stands for relative movement toward and away from each other to accommodate and supportingly engage either said reformed tube or said elongated member, and spring means urging said idler rolls of each set toward each other, said idler rolls being adapted to be moved away from each other against the action of said spring means by the leading end of the reformed tube to accommodate the latter.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 in which said means supporting said sets of idler rolls on said stands comprises, for each idler roll set, a pair of arms rotatably supporting said idler rolls and pivoted to the associated stand for movement about axes coinciding with the axes of rotation of said driven rolls supported by the associated stand.

5. In a method of shrouding an elongated member, the steps of continuously advancing a flattened tube along a predetermined path, reforming the flattened tube to tubular shape at an initial point in said path during such ad- Vance, providing a yieldable support at a subsequent point in the path of advance of the tube, suporting the elongated member on said yieldable support so that its axis generally coincides with said path, separating said support from supporting engagement with the elongated member by the leading end of the advancing reformed tube to shroud the elongated member with the reformed tube, and thereafter supporting the reformed tube on said yieldable support.

6. Apparatus for shrouding an elongated member, comprising means for advancing a flattened tube along a predetermined path, means for reforming the flattened tube to tubular shape at an initial point in said path during such advance, and means for supporting the elongated member at a subsequent point in and in general alignment with the path of advance of the tube to be shrouded by the reformed tube, said supporting means including a support and resilient means urging said support to a position to engage and support the elongated member, said support in such position being adapted to be engaged and separated from supporting engagement With the elongated member by the leading end of the reformed tube and to then engage and support the reformed tube.

7. Apparatus for shrouding an elongated member, comprising means for advancing a flattened tube along a predetermined path, means for reforming the flattened tube to tubular shape at an initial point in said path during such advance, and means for supporting the elongated member at a subsequent point in and in general alignment with the path of advance of the tube to be shrouded by the reformed tube, said supporting means including a pair of opposed rolls and resilient means urging said rolls toward one another to positions in which they engage and support the elongated member, said rolls in such position being adapted to be engaged and spread apart against the action of said resilient means by the leading end of the reformed tube, said rolls being thereby separated from supporting engagement with the elongated member and adapted to thereafter support the reformed tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Bennett et a1 Dec. 25, 

5. IN A METHOD OF SHROUDING AN ELONGATED MEMBER, THE STEPS OF CONTINUOUSLY ADVANCING A FLATTENED TUBE ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH, REFORMING THE FLATTENED TUBE TO TUBULAR SHAPE AT AN INITIAL POINT IN SAID PATH DURING SUCH ADVANCE, PROVIDING A YIELDABLE SUPPORT AT A SUBSEQUENT POINT IN THE PATH OF ADVANCE OF THE TUBE, SUPORTING THE ELONGATED MEMBER ON SAID YIELDABLE SUPPORT SO THAT ITS AXIS GENERALLY COINCIDES WITH SAID PATH, SEPARATING SAID SUPPORT FROM SUPPORTING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ELONGATED MEMBER BY THE LEADING END OF THE ADVANCING REFORMED TUBE TO SHROUD THE ELONGATED MEMBER WITH THE REFORMED TUBE, AND THEREAFTER SUPPORTING THE REFORMED TUBE ON SAID YIELDABLE SUPPORT. 